Paul Kariuki Njiru (born March 11, 1963) is the Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Wote Diocese in Kenya.
Seminary formation and studies
Paul Kariuki Njiru was born in Kyeni, Embu. After schooling, he studied at St. Joseph's seminary and then St. Thomas Aquinas seminary in Nairobi. In 1991 the Pontifical Urban University awarded him a bachelor's degree for his studies while in Kenya. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Embu on March 1, 1993. As a parish priest, he worked in Kairuri parish and served as diocesan youth chaplain. He was the education secretary for Catholic schools in Embu Diocese. Having studied for six years in Rome, he was then awarded an S.T.L. (1999) and an S.T.D. (2002) in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University.[1]
Bishop of Embu
Pope Benedict XVI nominated him Bishop of Embu on May 9, 2009. He was ordained on July 25. The consecrating bishops were Archbishop John Kardinal Njue of Nairobi, Peter J. Kairo, Archbishop of Nyeri, and Anthony Muheria, Bishop of Kitui.
He is chairman of the Catholic Health Commission of Kenya, a commission formed by the Kenyan Bishops' Conference. As chairman, he has oversight of the 58 hospitals, 83 health centers, 311 dispensaries, and 17 medical training institutions owned and operated by the Catholic Church in Kenya.[2]
Bishop of Wote
Pope Francis erected the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wote in Makueni County in 2023, separating it from the Diocese of Machakos and appointing Njiru to be the first bishop.[3] Soon after the pope issued a statement allowing priests to bless same-sex unions, Njiru prohibited such blessings in Wote Diocese.[4]
Publications
- Charisms and the Holy Spirit's Activity in the Body of Christ: An Exegetical-Theological Study of 1 Corinthians 12,4–11 and Romans 12,6–8 [Doctoral dissertation] (Rome: Ed. Pontificia Univ. Gregoriana, 2002).
External links
- "bishop/bkariuki". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney.
- Video of Bishop Njiru celebrating Mass
References
- ↑ Njiru, Paul Kariuki (2002). Charisms and the Holy Spirit's Activity in the Body of Christ: An Exegetical-Theological Study of 1 Corinthians 12,4–11 and Romans 12,6–8. Rome: Ed. Pontificia Univ. Gregoriana. pp. back cover text.
- ↑ "Catholic Bishops Urge Ministry of Health to Come Clean On Tetanus Vaccine". AllAfrica.com. Washington, DC. October 16, 2014. ProQuest 1613287291. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- ↑ Wanza, Prudence (July 22, 2023). "Pope Francis erects new Diocese of Wote, appoints first Bishop". KBC News.
- ↑ Njeri, Maureen (December 28, 2023). "Bishop Paul Kariuki Bans Priests From Blessing Same-Sex Marriages Week After Pope Francis's Directive". Kenyans. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.